The Glory of the Gita's Fourteenth Chapter

Verse 1 (padma.6.188.1)

ईश्वर उवाच- अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि भवानि भवमुक्तये । गीताचतुर्दशाध्यायमवधारय सुस्मिते

īśvara uvāca- ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi bhavāni bhavamuktaye gītācaturdaśādhyāyamavadhāraya susmite

Ishvara said: Now, O Bhavani, for liberation from worldly existence I shall tell further; attend, O gently-smiling one, to the fourteenth chapter of the Gita.

Verse 2 (padma.6.188.2)

मेदिन्यां यत्किलस्थूलमस्ति काश्मीरमंडलम् । राजधानी सरस्वत्या आस्ते चैव मनोहरा

medinyāṁ yatkilasthūlamasti kāśmīramaṁḍalam rājadhānī sarasvatyā āste caiva manoharā

On this earth there is indeed the great realm of Kashmira; there stands the enchanting capital of Sarasvati.

Verse 3 (padma.6.188.3)

यामधिष्ठाय वाग्देवी ब्रह्मलोकं प्रयच्छति । हंसमारुह्यमानापि सावित्रीप्रहतैरपि

yāmadhiṣṭhāya vāgdevī brahmalokaṁ prayacchati haṁsamāruhyamānāpi sāvitrīprahatairapi

Presiding over which, the goddess of speech grants the world of Brahma to her devotees — she who, mounted upon her swan, is honored even with offerings touched by Savitri—

Verse 4 (padma.6.188.4)

सरस्वतीपदांभोज सेवामाश्रित्य कुंकुमैः । यत्र गौरवयंत्याशा हंसपक्षपुटोद्भवैः

sarasvatīpadāṁbhoja sevāmāśritya kuṁkumaiḥ yatra gauravayaṁtyāśā haṁsapakṣapuṭodbhavaiḥ

—where, taking refuge in the service of Sarasvati's lotus feet, the directions are honored with the saffron rising from the folds of her swan's wings—

Verse 5 (padma.6.188.5)

निरंतरं तया चैव नृणां संस्कृतभाषिणाम् । सुपर्वाणमयी भाषा निमेषेणोपलभ्यते

niraṁtaraṁ tayā caiva nṛṇāṁ saṁskṛtabhāṣiṇām suparvāṇamayī bhāṣā nimeṣeṇopalabhyate

—and by her constant grace, the speech of men speaking Sanskrit becomes, in an instant, filled with the very speech of the gods.

Verse 6 (padma.6.188.6)

प्रातर्गृहांगणोद्भूतै र्यत्रकुंकुमपांसुलैः । सर्वतोरुणितच्छाय शशांकरविमंडलम्

prātargṛhāṁgaṇodbhūtai ryatrakuṁkumapāṁsulaiḥ sarvatoruṇitacchāya śaśāṁkaravimaṁḍalam

There, in the morning, from saffron-dust rising in the courtyards of houses, the whole sphere of moon and sun takes on a reddened hue on every side.

Verse 7 (padma.6.188.7)

तत्रासीत्तेजसां राशिः शौर्यवर्मा नरेश्वरः । उद्यदुज्ज्वलबाणौघ खंडितारातिमंडलः

tatrāsīttejasāṁ rāśiḥ śauryavarmā nareśvaraḥ udyadujjvalabāṇaugha khaṁḍitārātimaṁḍalaḥ

There lived a mass of splendor, the king Shauryavarma, who shattered the circle of his enemies with the rising flood of his brilliant arrows.

Verse 8 (padma.6.188.8)

अभूच्च सिंहलद्वीपे राजा सिंहपराक्रमः । नाम्ना विक्रमवेतालः कलानामपि शेवधिः

abhūcca siṁhaladvīpe rājā siṁhaparākramaḥ nāmnā vikramavetālaḥ kalānāmapi śevadhiḥ

And in the island of Sinhala there was a king of lion-like valor, named Vikramavetala, a very treasury of the arts.

Verse 9 (padma.6.188.9)

उभौ परस्परं मैत्रीं वर्द्धयांचक्रतुः क्रमात् । तत्तद्देशसमुत्पन्नैरपूर्वैः प्रचुरोत्करैः

ubhau parasparaṁ maitrīṁ varddhayāṁcakratuḥ kramāt tattaddeśasamutpannairapūrvaiḥ pracurotkaraiḥ

The two of them gradually increased their mutual friendship with abundant, unprecedented gifts native to each of their lands.

Verse 10 (padma.6.188.10)

एकदा प्रहितं प्रेम्णा प्रभूतं शौर्यवर्मणा । राजा विक्रमवेतालो विलोक्य शुनकीद्वयम्

ekadā prahitaṁ premṇā prabhūtaṁ śauryavarmaṇā rājā vikramavetālo vilokya śunakīdvayam

Once, seeing a pair of hunting bitches sent with great affection by Shauryavarma, king Vikramavetala—

Verse 11 (padma.6.188.11)

मत्तमातंगतुरग मणिभूषणचामरम् । प्रेषयामास मित्राय प्रभूतं शौर्यवर्मणे

mattamātaṁgaturaga maṇibhūṣaṇacāmaram preṣayāmāsa mitrāya prabhūtaṁ śauryavarmaṇe

—in return sent, abundantly, rutting elephants, horses, jeweled ornaments, and chowries to his friend Shauryavarma.

Verse 12 (padma.6.188.12)

एकदा शिबिकारूढश्चारु चामरवीजितः । सुवर्णशृंखलारूढं वाद्यडिंडिमडंबरम्

ekadā śibikārūḍhaścāru cāmaravījitaḥ suvarṇaśṛṁkhalārūḍhaṁ vādyaḍiṁḍimaḍaṁbaram

One day, riding in a palanquin, gracefully fanned with chowries, amid the pomp of drums and instruments, leading a pair of hounds bound in golden chains—

Verse 13 (padma.6.188.13)

शुनीयुगलमादाय मृगया कौतुकोत्सुकः । राजा जगाम बाह्यालीं समं राजकुमारकैः

śunīyugalamādāya mṛgayā kautukotsukaḥ rājā jagāma bāhyālīṁ samaṁ rājakumārakaiḥ

—the king, eager with delight for the hunt, went out to the outskirts together with the young princes.

Verse 14 (padma.6.188.14)

पणबंधविधानेन समुपेतं शशामिषम् । तत्र राजकुमाराणां महान्कोलाहलोऽभवत्

paṇabaṁdhavidhānena samupetaṁ śaśāmiṣam tatra rājakumārāṇāṁ mahānkolāhalo'bhavat

There arose a great commotion among the princes over a hare caught up in the arrangement of a wager.

Verse 15 (padma.6.188.15)

ततः समानवयसा केनचिद्राजसूनुना । बहुमूल्यं पणं कृत्वा राजाचिक्रीडकौतुकी

tataḥ samānavayasā kenacidrājasūnunā bahumūlyaṁ paṇaṁ kṛtvā rājācikrīḍakautukī

Then, with a certain prince of equal age, the delighted king made a high-value wager and began the game.

Verse 16 (padma.6.188.16)

ततोवतार्य दोलाया विरुदावलिगर्विताम् । धावतः शशकस्योच्चैः पृष्ठे मुंचन्नृपं शुनीम्

tatovatārya dolāyā virudāvaligarvitām dhāvataḥ śaśakasyoccaiḥ pṛṣṭhe muṁcannṛpaṁ śunīm

Then, bringing her down from the palanquin, the king, amid the string of praises chanted for her, loudly released the hound upon the back of the fleeing hare.

Verse 17 (padma.6.188.17)

मुमोच राजपुत्रोऽपि प्रेमपात्रं महाभुजः । विरराम शुनीमुच्चैः संकीर्त्य विरुदावलीम्

mumoca rājaputro'pi premapātraṁ mahābhujaḥ virarāma śunīmuccaiḥ saṁkīrtya virudāvalīm

The mighty-armed prince too released his beloved hound, loudly proclaiming her string of praises, and then fell silent.

Verse 18 (padma.6.188.18)

अलक्ष्यमाणवेगेऽस्मिन्शुनीयुगलकेभृशम् । धावत्युत्थितमेवासीत्पश्यतां सर्वभूभृताम्

alakṣyamāṇavege'sminśunīyugalakebhṛśam dhāvatyutthitamevāsītpaśyatāṁ sarvabhūbhṛtām

As that pair of hounds ran with imperceptible speed, all the assembled kings watched intently.

Verse 19 (padma.6.188.19)

पपात गर्ते महति शशकोऽतिश्रमादसौ । पतितोऽपि शुनी वश्यो नाभवच्छशशावकः

papāta garte mahati śaśako'tiśramādasau patito'pi śunī vaśyo nābhavacchaśaśāvakaḥ

Overcome by exhaustion, the young hare fell into a great pit; even fallen, the little hare did not fall under the hound's power.

Verse 20 (padma.6.188.20)

ततः शनैः समुत्थाय धावन्नाक्रम्यरोषतः । जगृहे राजशुन्याऽसौ शशकः फेनमुद्वमन्

tataḥ śanaiḥ samutthāya dhāvannākramyaroṣataḥ jagṛhe rājaśunyā'sau śaśakaḥ phenamudvaman

Then, rising up slowly, running and pouncing in fury, the hare, foaming at the mouth, was seized by the king's hound.

Verse 21 (padma.6.188.21)

ततः कथंचिदुप्लुत्य गच्छन्विस्खलयञ्छशः । राजपुत्रशुनक्यासौ गृहीतः कंधरातटे

tataḥ kathaṁciduplutya gacchanviskhalayañchaśaḥ rājaputraśunakyāsau gṛhītaḥ kaṁdharātaṭe

Then, having somehow leapt free and gone stumbling on, the hare was seized at the nape of the neck by the prince's hound.

Verse 22 (padma.6.188.22)

जितमस्माभिरत्यर्थमिति संजल्पतां नृणाम् । कोलाहले शंकिताया शुन्या निर्गतवान्मुखात्

jitamasmābhiratyarthamiti saṁjalpatāṁ nṛṇām kolāhale śaṁkitāyā śunyā nirgatavānmukhāt

While the people were loudly declaring 'we have won decisively,' amid the tumult, the hare slipped out of the mouth of the startled hound.

Verse 23 (padma.6.188.23)

ततो दंष्ट्राव्रणश्रेणी क्षरद्रुधिरधारकः । क्वापि र्ममरभूभागे निलीयस्थितवाञ्छशः

tato daṁṣṭrāvraṇaśreṇī kṣaradrudhiradhārakaḥ kvāpi rmamarabhūbhāge nilīyasthitavāñchaśaḥ

Then, bearing a row of wounds from the fangs, streaming with blood, the hare went and hid somewhere in a pleasant tract of ground.

Verse 24 (padma.6.188.24)

जिघ्रंत्या राजशुन्याऽसौ भूभागं धनरोषया । दृष्टमात्रः परित्रस्तो हस्तमात्रं ततोऽगमत्

jighraṁtyā rājaśunyā'sau bhūbhāgaṁ dhanaroṣayā dṛṣṭamātraḥ paritrasto hastamātraṁ tato'gamat

As the king's hound sniffed at the ground in intense fury, the moment the hare saw her, terrified, he bolted just a hand's breadth further—

Verse 25 (padma.6.188.25)

यत्र कर्पूरकदली क्रोडव्याघ्रदरीतलः । चोली कपोलफलकान्चुबन्वाति समीरणः

yatra karpūrakadalī kroḍavyāghradarītalaḥ colī kapolaphalakāncubanvāti samīraṇaḥ

—to where camphor-plantains grew, where tigers denned in mountain caves, and where the breeze kissed the cheeks of jasmine blossoms—

Verse 26 (padma.6.188.26)

उद्भिन्न केतकीकोशरजोमुकुलितेक्षणः । विस्रब्धाहरणा यत्रच्छायां तां परितन्वतः

udbhinna ketakīkośarajomukulitekṣaṇaḥ visrabdhāharaṇā yatracchāyāṁ tāṁ paritanvataḥ

—its eyes half-closed by the pollen of bursting ketaki-buds, where creatures fearlessly grazed, spreading out into that shade—

Verse 27 (padma.6.188.27)

नारिकेलफलैर्यत्र स्वयं निपतितैरधः । अपि चूतफलैस्तृप्ताः पक्वैः शाखामृगा अपि

nārikelaphalairyatra svayaṁ nipatitairadhaḥ api cūtaphalaistṛptāḥ pakvaiḥ śākhāmṛgā api

—where even monkeys were satisfied by coconuts that had fallen down of themselves, and by ripe mango fruits—

Verse 28 (padma.6.188.28)

अपि केसरिणो यत्र खेलंति कलभैः समम् । फणिनः केकिबर्हेषु निर्विशंकं विशंति च

api kesariṇo yatra khelaṁti kalabhaiḥ samam phaṇinaḥ kekibarheṣu nirviśaṁkaṁ viśaṁti ca

—where even lions played together with baby elephants, and serpents entered fearlessly among the peacocks' tail-feathers—

Verse 29 (padma.6.188.29)

यत्राश्रमांतरे विप्रो वत्सनामा जितेंद्रियः । शांतश्चतुर्दशाध्यायं जपन्नास्ते निरंतरम्

yatrāśramāṁtare vipro vatsanāmā jiteṁdriyaḥ śāṁtaścaturdaśādhyāyaṁ japannāste niraṁtaram

—there, within a hermitage, a brahmin named Vatsa, of subdued senses and tranquil, dwelt, ceaselessly reciting the fourteenth chapter.

Verse 30 (padma.6.188.30)

तत्र तच्छिष्यपादाब्ज प्रक्षालनजलैः कृते । कर्दमे न्यपतद्गत्वा जीवशेषो मुहुः श्वसन्

tatra tacchiṣyapādābja prakṣālanajalaiḥ kṛte kardame nyapatadgatvā jīvaśeṣo muhuḥ śvasan

There, going into the mud made by the water that had washed his disciple's lotus feet, the hare, with the last of its life, fell, gasping again and again.

Verse 31 (padma.6.188.31)

ततः कर्दमसंस्पर्शमात्रनिस्तीर्ण संसृतिः । दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य निर्ययौ शशको दिवम्

tataḥ kardamasaṁsparśamātranistīrṇa saṁsṛtiḥ divyaṁ vimānamāruhya niryayau śaśako divam

Then, freed from the cycle of rebirth by the mere touch of that mud, the hare, mounting a divine chariot, departed to heaven.

Verse 32 (padma.6.188.32)

ततः शुन्यपि लिप्तांगीस्तोकैः कर्दमबिंदुभिः । क्षुत्पिपासार्तिरहिता शुनीरूपं विहाय सा

tataḥ śunyapi liptāṁgīstokaiḥ kardamabiṁdubhiḥ kṣutpipāsārtirahitā śunīrūpaṁ vihāya sā

Then the hound too, her body smeared with a few drops of that mud, freed from the pain of hunger and thirst, abandoned her hound-form—

Verse 33 (padma.6.188.33)

ततो दिव्यांगनारम्यं गंधर्वैरुपशोभितम् । दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य शुन्यपि त्रिदिवं ययौ

tato divyāṁganāramyaṁ gaṁdharvairupaśobhitam divyaṁ vimānamāruhya śunyapi tridivaṁ yayau

—and, mounting a divine chariot, beautiful with celestial maidens and graced by gandharvas, went to the triple heaven.

Verse 34 (padma.6.188.34)

ततो जहास मेधावी शिष्यो नाम्ना स्वकंधरः । विचार्य विस्मितः पूर्वजन्मवैरस्य कारणम्

tato jahāsa medhāvī śiṣyo nāmnā svakaṁdharaḥ vicārya vismitaḥ pūrvajanmavairasya kāraṇam

Then that wise disciple, named Svakandhara, having pondered and grown astonished, laughed, having grasped the cause of their enmity from a former birth.

Verse 35 (padma.6.188.35)

राजापि पर्यपृच्छत्तं विस्मयस्मेरलोचनः । प्रणम्य परया भक्त्या विनयैकपयोनिधिः

rājāpi paryapṛcchattaṁ vismayasmeralocanaḥ praṇamya parayā bhaktyā vinayaikapayonidhiḥ

The king too, an ocean of humility, his eyes wide and smiling with wonder, bowed with the utmost devotion and questioned him:

Verse 36 (padma.6.188.36)

कथां कथय मे विप्र हीनयोनि निषेवितौ । अज्ञौयौ जग्मतुः स्वर्गे शुनी शशकशावकौ

kathāṁ kathaya me vipra hīnayoni niṣevitau ajñauyau jagmatuḥ svarge śunī śaśakaśāvakau

'Tell me the story, O brahmin: how did that ignorant hound and young hare, dwelling in such lowly wombs, go to heaven?'

Verse 37 (padma.6.188.37)

शिष्य उवाच। वत्सनामा द्विजन्मास्ते वनेऽमुष्मिन्जितेंद्रियः । चतुर्दशं तु ह्यध्यायं गीतानां सर्वदा जपन्

śiṣya uvāca vatsanāmā dvijanmāste vane'muṣminjiteṁdriyaḥ caturdaśaṁ tu hyadhyāyaṁ gītānāṁ sarvadā japan

The disciple said: 'A brahmin named Vatsa lives in this forest, of subdued senses, always reciting the fourteenth chapter of the Gita.'

Verse 38 (padma.6.188.38)

शिष्योऽहं तस्य भूपाल ब्रह्मविद्याविशारदः । चतुर्दश तु अध्यायं जपामि प्रत्यहं नृप

śiṣyo'haṁ tasya bhūpāla brahmavidyāviśāradaḥ caturdaśa tu adhyāyaṁ japāmi pratyahaṁ nṛpa

'I am his disciple, O king, learned in the knowledge of Brahman; I too recite the fourteenth chapter every day, O king.'

Verse 39 (padma.6.188.39)

मदीयचरणांभोजप्रक्षालनजले लुठन् । शशस्त्रिदिवमापन्नः शुनक्या सह भूपते

madīyacaraṇāṁbhojaprakṣālanajale luṭhan śaśastridivamāpannaḥ śunakyā saha bhūpate

'Rolling in the water that had washed my lotus feet, the hare, O king, along with the hound, attained the triple heaven.'

Verse 40 (padma.6.188.40)

राजोवाच। हेतुना केन कथय हसितं च द्विजोत्तम । अतः किमपि साकूतं मन्यमानेन सादरम्

rājovāca hetunā kena kathaya hasitaṁ ca dvijottama ataḥ kimapi sākūtaṁ manyamānena sādaram

The king said: 'Tell me, O best of brahmins, for what reason you laughed — thinking there was some hidden meaning in this, I ask you with regard.'

Verse 41 (padma.6.188.41)

शिष्य उवाच। महाराष्ट्रेति नगरं नाम्ना प्रत्युदकं महत् । तत्रासीद्ब्राह्मणो नाम्ना केशवः कितवाग्रणीः

śiṣya uvāca mahārāṣṭreti nagaraṁ nāmnā pratyudakaṁ mahat tatrāsīdbrāhmaṇo nāmnā keśavaḥ kitavāgraṇīḥ

The disciple said: 'In Maharashtra there is a great city named Pratyudaka; there lived a brahmin named Keshava, foremost among gamblers.'

Verse 42 (padma.6.188.42)

विलोभनाभवत्तस्य जाया स्वैरविहारिणी । तेन सा हन्यते क्रोधाद्वैरं संचिंत्य जन्मनः

vilobhanābhavattasya jāyā svairavihāriṇī tena sā hanyate krodhādvairaṁ saṁciṁtya janmanaḥ

'His wife, named Vilobhana, was a woman who wandered freely; in anger he killed her, and the enmity from that birth continued.'

Verse 43 (padma.6.188.43)

ततः स्त्रीवधपापेन शशको जायते द्विजः । किल्बिषाच्छुनकी सापि जाता वंचनजन्मनः

tataḥ strīvadhapāpena śaśako jāyate dvijaḥ kilbiṣācchunakī sāpi jātā vaṁcanajanmanaḥ

'Then, by the sin of killing a woman, the brahmin was born as the hare; and she too, by the guilt of her deception, was born as a bitch.'

Verse 44 (padma.6.188.44)

पूर्वेण जन्मनाभ्यस्तं वैरं विस्मरतो नहि । आसेदिवद्भ्यां बहुधा योन्यंतरमपि क्वचित्

pūrveṇa janmanābhyastaṁ vairaṁ vismarato nahi āsedivadbhyāṁ bahudhā yonyaṁtaramapi kvacit

'The enmity practiced in a former birth is not forgotten; the two of them, pursuing each other, passed through many another womb as well.'

Verse 45 (padma.6.188.45)

इत्याकलय्य सकलं भूपालः श्रद्धयान्वितः । गीतामभ्यस्य सकलामवाप परमां गतिम्

ityākalayya sakalaṁ bhūpālaḥ śraddhayānvitaḥ gītāmabhyasya sakalāmavāpa paramāṁ gatim

Having thus understood all this, the king, filled with faith, studied the entire Gita and attained the supreme goal.